Breaking: #Patriots special teams ace Brandon King likely out for the season with a torn quadriceps, per league source. Additionally, TE Ben Watson is in the concussion protocol. More injury news here: https://t.co/2ixqDn2Xuc

King, 26, has been a favorite of Bill Belichick since joining the team in 2015, playing in 57 regular-season games and all 11 of the Patriots’ postseason games over the last four seasons. Primarily a special teams player, he’s recorded 41 tackles.

Watson, 38, came out of his brief retirement to sign this offseason with the Patriots, the team that initially drafted him way back in 2004. He left the game after taking the hit from Reid, and he did not return. He is already out for the first four weeks of the season, due to a PED suspension.